Knitting jack



I... MISH CON KNITTING JACK Filed April 1. 1954 FlG.l

7 FIG.4

INVENTOR J ATTORNEY FIG.6

2,755,643 Patented Get. 9, 1956 KNITTING JACK Lester Mishcon, Woodmere, N. Knitting Machine Co. Inc, corporation Y., assignor to Supreme Richmond Hill, N. Y., a

This invention relates to a knitting jack.

Broadly, it is an object of the invention to provide a knitting jack which is used with a pattern wheel to elevate selected needles.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a knitting jack with an enlarged end to prevent the needle butts from getting caught between the jack and the walls of the pattern wheel which often causes the ends of the walls of the pattern wheel to be broken.

In a circular knitting machine employing the use of pattern wheels in which jacks are used to control two or three needle positions, the needle has to be raised to lift the needle latch and, therefore, offers resistance. The greater the resistance the greater the possibility the butt of the needle has to slip into the space between the tooth of the pattern wheel and jack as it is now made. This often causes the tooth or the wall of the pattern wheel to break. By enlarging the end of the jack, I have found that the needle butt cannot possibly enter the space between the tooth of the pattern wheel and the jack. Since the pattern wheels and the jacks create the design of the fabric, my new jack with the enlarged end corrects mistakes in the fabric made with the jacks of uniform thickness now being used and works with greater efliciency than jacks heretofore used.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference is had to the following detailed description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a pattern or jack Wheel and needle cylinder, partially broken away, showing a few needle butts and a single jack between two teeth of the pattern wheel.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top view of my new jack shown in Fig. 1, partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a side View of the jack shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken through line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged top view of a modified jack, partly in section.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged top or plan view of a few teeth of the pattern wheel, partly broken away, showing the new jack between two teeth of the pattern wheel, and several needle butts between the pattern wheel teeth, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged top or plan view of two teeth of the pattern wheel, partly broken away, showing the old jack between two teeth of the pattern wheel, and a needle butt between a tapered tooth of the pattern wheel and the old jack.

Referring to the drawing, numeral 10 represents a jack or pattern wheel in approximate relation to the needle cylinder 11, the arrows indicating the direction of travel.

The pattern wheel 10 has a series of uniformly spaced apart teeth 12 around the outer circumference of the wheel and is well known in the art. Cylinder 11 carries a series of uniform latch needles whose butts 13 often encounter the jacks 12 in the wheel 10 and are elevated to tuck or knit positions; but needles whose butts enter the empty slots 14 are not elevated but pass through and are drawn down into inoperative or welt position.

The pattern wheel Iii is attached to the knitting machine and is in geared relation with the butts 13 of the knitting needles. Since the needle has to be raised to lift the needle latch (not shown) it offers some resistance. The ends of the pattern wheel teeth 12 are tapered as shown. By using the jack 15 which is of uniform thickness throughout its length, a space 16 exists between the jack 15 and the two adjacent wheel teeth 12. When the butts 13 of the needles leave the under rest they often become jammed or slip into the space to causing defective cloth and often breaking the ends of the teeth 12 or the Walls of, the teeth 12.

l have found that by enlarging the outer ends 17 .of the jacks 18 the complete space between the teeth 12 is filled; the outer ends 17 being tapered the same angle as the outer ends of teeth 12 so that the needle butts 13 cannot slip into any space between the jack 18 and the teeth 12 since no space exists. By the use of jack 18 one major cause of defective cloth is eliminated and it has been found that the knitting machine works more efficiently. Of course, the life of the pattern or jack wheel is greatly extended.

In Fig. 5, I have shown a modified jack 19 having an enlarged end 2% which is tapered on opposed sides, as shown at 21, with shoulders 22, but whose taper is not extended to merge with the sides of the jack 19 as is the case with the end 17 of jack 18.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. The combination of a jack with a pattern wheel of a knitting machine, said pattern wheel having substantially parallel teeth with tapered ends and uniform spaces therebetween, said jack fitting between two adjacent teeth having an enlarged end to substantially fill the space between and to the very ends of said adjacent teeth of said pattern wheel.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said enlarged end of said jack has opposed inwardly tapered walls tapered at substantially the same angle as the tapered ends of said teeth of said pattern wheel.

3. The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said inwardly tapered walls 'of said enlarged end of said jack merge into the sides of said jack.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said inwardly tapered walls of said enlarged end of said jack terminate in abrupt opposed shoulders meeting the sides of said jack.

5. A jack for use with a knitting machine pattern wheel having substantially parallel teeth with tapering ends and uniform spaces therebetween, said jack being adapted to fit between two adjacent teeth of said pattern wheel, said jack having sides and an enlarged end to substantially fill the space between and to the very ends of said adjacent teeth of said pattern wheel.

6. The jack in accordance with claim 5 wherein said enlarged end of said jack has opposed inwardly tapered walls tapered at substantially the same angle as the tapered ends of said teeth of said pattern wheel.

7. The jack in accordance with claim 6 wherein said inwardly tapered walls of said enlarged end of said jack merge into the sides of said jack.

8. The jack in accordance with claim 6 wherein said inwardly tapered walls of said enlarged end of said jack terminal in abrupt opposed shoulders meeting the sides of said jack.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,203,711 Agulnek June 11, 1940 

